This notice describes how patient health information is used and disclosed by the Dallas College dental hygiene clinic and how a patient can gain access to this information. Please review and read carefully.
The Dallas College dental hygiene clinic is required by law (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Texas HB300) to maintain the privacy of patient protected health information (PHI), to provide notice with our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this NPP while it is in effect. This NPP takes effect on July 20, 2023, and will remain in effect until it is replaced at a future date.
The Dallas College dental hygiene clinic reserves the right to change the NPP and the terms of the NPP at any time, provided such changes are permitted by federal and state laws, and to make new NPP provisions effective for all PHI that we maintain. When a change to the NPP occurs, we will change the postings in the clinic, provide a copy to any patient who requests it, and change our NPP on the dental hygiene clinic website.
You may request a copy of this NPP at any time and will be provided a copy the same day. You will be asked to sign this NPP on your first appointment and your signed document will be good for
6 years. This form is compliant with
HIPAA and Texas Health & Safety Code 181.001.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
We may use and disclose your health information for different purposes, including treatment and health care operations. For each of these categories, we have provided a description and example. Some information, such as HIV-related information, genetic information, alcohol/substance use/abuse, and mental health records may be entitled to special confidentiality protection under applicable federal or state law. We abide by these special protections as they pertain to applicable cases.
Treatment
We may use and disclose your health information for your treatment. For example, we may disclose your health information to a specialist providing your treatment.
Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our health care operations. For example, health care operations include quality assurance and improvement activities, conducting training programs, and licensing activities. Patient identifiable data is not used in these operations.
Individuals Involved in Your Care
We may disclose your health information to your family or friends, patient representative, or any other individual identified by you when they are involved in your care. If a person has the authority by law to make a health decision for you, we will treat that patient representative the same way we would treat you with respect to your health information.
Disaster Relief
We may use or disclose your health information to assist in disaster relief efforts.
Required by Law
We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law.
National Security
We may disclose to military authorities the health information of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances. We may disclose to authorized federal officials health information required by lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities. We may disclose to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials having lawful custody of the PHI of an inmate or patient.
Secretary of HHS
We will disclose your health information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when required to investigate or determine compliance with HIPAA.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors
We may release your PHI to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also disclose PHI to funeral directors consistent with applicable law to enable them to carry out their duties.
YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION RIGHTS
Access
You have the right to look at or obtain copies of your health information with limited exceptions. You must make the request in writing. You may obtain a form to request access by using the contact information listed at the end of this NPP. If you request information that we maintain on paper, we may provide photocopies. If you request information that we maintain electronically, you have the right to an electronic copy. We will use the form and format you requested if readily producible. We do not charge for this service. If you are denied a request for access, you have the right to have the denial reviewed in accordance with the requirements of applicable law.
Disclosure Accounting
With the exception of certain disclosures, you have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. To request an accounting of disclosures of your health information, you must submit your request in writing.
Right to Request a Restriction
You have the right to request additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your PHI by submitting a written request. Your written request must include (1) what information you want to limit, (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure, or both, (3) to who you want the limits to apply. We are not required to agree to your request.
Alternative Communication
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations. You must make your request in writing. Your request must specify the alternative means or location. We will accommodate all reasonable requests. Requests that would endanger or increase the risk to an employee or student will not be approved. Requests that violate Dallas College policies will not be approved.
Amendment
You have the right to request that we amend your health information. Your request must be in writing, and it must explain why the information should be amended. We may deny your request under certain circumstances. If we agree to your request, we will amend your record(s) and notify you as such. If we deny your request for an amendment, we will provide you with a written explanation of the denial and your rights.
Right to Notification of a Breach
You will receive notification of a breach to your unsecured PHI as required by HIPAA law.
Electronic Notice
You will receive a paper copy of this NPP upon your request even if you have agreed to receive this NPP electronically.
Public Health Activities
We may disclose your health information for public health activities, including disclosures to: Prevent or control disease, injury, or disability; Report child abuse or neglect; Report reactions to medications or problems with products or devices; Notify a person of a recall, repair, or replacement of products or devices; Notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or condition; Notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Workers Compensation
We may disclose your PHI to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose your PHI for law enforcement purposes as permitted by HIPAA, as required by law, or in response to a subpoena or court order.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose PHI to an oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections, and credentialing, as necessary for licensure and for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order. We may disclose health information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful processes instituted by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made by either the requesting party or us to tell you about the request, or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Research
We may disclose your PHI to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board or a privacy board has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your information. If private patient information would be used in the research, this is only done upon patient written consent.
OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES OF PHI
Your authorization is required by HIPPA, with few exceptions, for disclosure of psychotherapy notes, use of disclosure of PHI for marketing and fundraising, and for the sale of PHI. Dallas College does not participate in the marketing, fundraising, or sale activities that would require the release of PHI. We will also obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes other than those provided for use in this NPP (or as otherwise permitted or required by law). You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Upon receipt of the written revocation, we will stop using or disclosing your PHI, except to the extent that we have already taken action in reliance on the authorization.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
If you want more information about our privacy practices or have questions or concerns, please contact us.
If you are concerned we have violated your privacy rights, or if you disagree with a decision we made about access to your health information, or in response to a request you made to amend or restrict the use or disclosure of your health information, or to have us communicate with you by alternative means or at alternative locations, you may complain using the contact information listed at the end of this NPP. You may also submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will provide you with the address to file your complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services upon your request.
We support your right to the privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.